Maybe the Raiders will keep both players, but it's more likely that their performances in the exhibition season - beginning at Dallas on Thursday night - will dictate which one replaces Justin Fargasand which will be looking for another team.

"I'm not even looking at that (competition)," Bennett said Tuesday after the morning practice in Napa. "I'm just looking at the task at hand: to help this team get better, have a great showing in the preseason and work for a job."

"I try not to worry about stuff that's out of my control," Cartwright said. "All I can do is try to execute plays and be a playmaker. ... I love to prove people wrong. Look how tall I am" - he's 5-foot-8 - "but I've been blessed to be in this league nine years."

It may not be the last roundup for the two backs, but the last roundup may be just over the next hill. Bennett turns 32 on Friday, and Cartwright is 30, a couple of months older than Fargas.

Last year the relentless Fargas was the team's second-leading rusher (to Bush) with 491 yards as McFadden missed four games with a knee injury. Fargas was released in March but, according to a tweet by Bush on Tuesday, is about to sign with Denver (the Broncos have not confirmed the deal).

Both the newcomers will see considerable action against the Cowboys, coach Tom Cablesaid. What he wants from them is to "do the job they're assigned to do and take care of the football," he said.

Early in his career, it looked as if Bennett was headed for stardom. The 27th player taken in the 2001 draft, out of Wisconsin, he made 29 starts his first two years in Minnesota. Following his Pro Bowl second year, though, he missed half the 2003 season because of an injury and never regained his kingpin role.

The Raiders are his sixth team in the last six years. He was with New Orleans barely long enough to enjoy the crawfish etouffee; the Saints signed him in 2006, then quickly dumped him after drafting Reggie Bush. He made stops in Kansas City, Tampa Bay and San Diego but has started just one game and scored two touchdowns in the last four seasons.

Cartwright entered the NFL in less illustrious fashion. He was the 257th pick, fifth-to-last, in 2002. For much of his eight years with the Redskins, he had more of a bowling-ball build, weighing 237 pounds. Now he's at 215.

He became a dependable if unspectacular kick returner and was the special teams co-captain. Rushing star Clinton Portiscalled him "the heart and soul" of the team, not an easy role under coach Jim Zorn, who was fired after last season.

With the Raiders, Cartwright has been reunited with two former Redskins quarterbacks, Jason Campbelland, recently, backup Colt Brennan.

After Mike Shanahantook over in Washington, Cartwright said an assistant coach told him he was going to take advantage of his versatility. "And then the day before free agency started, I got the phone call saying they're going to release me," he said.

Briefly: Cable said Campbell and the first-team offense would play the first quarter against Dallas. ... With Bruce Gradkowski(groin) and Charlie Frye(wrist) also out, Kyle Bollerand Brennan will take over after Campbell. ... McFadden missed his third straight day of practice with a tight left hamstring, so he is not expected to play. He said it's his first hamstring problem since high school, when he didn't get a chance to warm up before a track meet.

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